You've GOT to know how to do this
when you're doing fractions!
Let me walk you through
how to make sense of it
so you can do it too!
Here's a mixed number
You might also hear this called...
Different names...
Every mixed number contains...
When we change between a mixed number
and an improper fraction
A denominator of 3 means
each whole has 3 parts
And we have 2 wholes.
This fractional part
says we have 2 parts out of 3
We can see all our parts in this diagram.
And we keep the same denominator
because this is still 'parts out of 3'.
Let's take another example.
Each whole is worth 2
because our denominator is 2.
I have 4 wholes
So that means I have 4 lots of 2.
And I have another part here to add in;
the numerator of 1
So 8 + 1 = 9
That's our number of parts,
so that's our numerator.
Use the same denominator we started with, 2
And I'm done!
And I can use a diagram to prove it
4 wholes
Each whole = 2 parts
plus 1 more part out of 2.
It's the same answer!
This is 5 wholes
Each whole = 4 parts
as the denominator tells us
Add the remaining 3
That's 23 parts
Put that back over the denominator of 4
Done!
Each whole = 3 parts
Add the remaining 2
That's 20 parts
Put that back over the denominator of 3
Done!
Each whole = 5 parts
Plus the remaining 3
43 parts
Put that back over the denominator of 5
Done!
So when you're changing a mixed number
to an improper fraction
you take the whole number
and you multiply it by the denominator
and then you add the numerator
and that's your total number of parts,
your new numerator.
Put it over the old denominator
and you're all done.
And with practice
this will soon be second nature for you.
If this video helped you
please click the 'thumbs up' for me.